Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Books read Feb 28

#book #blogging #bookreview

Initiation by Phil M. WilliamsThis book starts out with Carter and he and his family have just relocated to a new location and his dad has retired from the military. He lives with his mom, sister and dad-not his dad.Carter is into football and most other sports and is good at it. Other people from the neighborhood stop by to say hi and bring a casserole-the Wheelers who also have a boy Carter's age-Ben.They do get to spend time together as they are both on football team, just different strings. Book is about the initiation into the football club that every boy wants to be accepted into. Like how author explains it at the end that not everyone has the same set of initiations. Those I've talked to said it was not that extreme but the way the author details the events make it very possible, for the book.Liked the football play by play action and locations they go. Lots of sex scenes. Liked how there were just a handful of characters tut there are others that stir things up.Loved hearing the details of places he went to and how he survived and who helped him. Will be reading more from this author.Received this book from the author and this is my honest review.

Celebrate This Day: Devotionals for special occasions by Marcia Laycock Book is broken up into the seasons of the year. What I especially liked was the other special days/holidays that the author concentrates on and the true life experiences-some very much like our own, that came through and how they got through the turmoil.Love holidays and hearing how different situations worked and how to find the true meaning of the holiday.God is there for good times along with bad times.

Rust Belt Boy Stories of an American Childhood by Hertnecky_ Paul Industrial north who grew up near mills and steel mines in PA among so many immigrants from many different countries.Some of the same memories growing up, catholic schools, JFK, being outside.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Weight Watchers Instant Pot Smart Points Cookbook by Mikayla Sage Like the idea of using the instant pot as we have one and love it. Each recipe has total time, servings and smart points.I have no idea what points are all about as I am not concerned with most of nutritional information but fat, good and bad and sodium due to our lifestyle.List of ingredients and how to make the dish. Not sure why some of them they want you to heat up some items on the stove first-why not use saute in the pot?Does come with nutritional information per servings: Calories, fat-not broken up into good and bad, carbs, sugar, protein and cholesterol.Book does explain about old and new ways of the WW point system and I'm surprised they did not get into making yogurt. Some of the recipes only include 4 items not as above. This tells me they got some recipes from another source and possibly they don't belong to the author?Why not make them all the same?

Miss Colfax's light by Bissonette_ Aimee - Ewen_ Eileen RyanStory of the first woman lighthouse keeper and what she had to do during her lifetime to keep the light going through good and bad weather.Loved learning about the Fresnel lens.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Time off from good behavior by Susan SussmanLiked this book a lot because the alternating chapters were about the wife and then the husband.She's still working at a new job with costume design for a movie-she's only ever done smaller projects. He has sold the family business and as a millionaire he just wants to travel and spend time with his wife-but she's too busy.Complications from her mother and his father stir this book around a bit. Loved learning about design parts.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The calcium bible, how to have better bones all your life by Hausman_ PatriciaInformation, rather old now but about the vitamins and minerals we all need and what things occur that our systems make lower portions of them.Relying on food you can still get them and even use them in things that are not usual so you can still get your daily value from them.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

35 Recipes of Delicious Pies with Fruits by Wanda CarterEach recipe includes a color photo along with time dish will be ready in. A short summary of the dish and list of ingredients. How to make the dish are included and no nutritional information.Surprised some dishes are using grams were others have US measurements. Not sure why but to me that means they got the recipes from another source-so they don't actually own the recipe?You might be able to substitute some ingredients for a healthier option for your dietary needs.

To keep the South Manitou light by Smucker_ Anna EganThe Michigan light house 1871 and the girls grandfather has died and they want to keep the light going. This is the story of how when the mainland was burning she was able to help her mother. The twelve year old Jessie remembers parts of her uncle Jim who had passed away but not all the details. Locks and light houses were very important to the Great Lakes shipping industry. Love the details of how the lighthouse came to be where they were and how they got there.As mainland is burning the breeze and dark ash are heading to the light house and the inspector has brought supplies and told them to work hard.It's almost the end of the shipping season and they hope to keep the light burning strong and the bell ringing.Love talk of the prisms as i had many in my eyeglasses as a young child. Mesmerizing.. Such intricate details on how to take care of the light during the cold icy winter storm. Never realized there were so many tools and rules of the trade. Now a museum open in warmer weather for tours.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Thoughts while tending sheep by Ilefeldt_ W. G_ (Willard G.) Reminds me of the grandfather tending his sheep in the Heidi movie.This one starts out with some the life of a child as he grows with disabilities and moved around family to family til he ends upin the fields above Carmel Valley, CA. With his problems he finds talking to the sheep make things normal to him.Like hearing about the dog who herds in the sheep and knows the sheep sometimes better than the author. We've seen such a dog demonstrating and it's really interesting and how hand signals work and whistle sounds.Silly names for the sheep, love the stories. I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Chicken Recipes: Art Of Eating CookBook.Chicken Recipes: Art Of Eating (Quick and Easy Cooking Series, Chicken Recipes CookBook, Easy Chicken Recipes, Grilled Chicken, Fried Chicken, Baked Chicken, Recetas De Pollo, Receta Libro) by Raymond RossEach recipe comes with a beautiful photo and a summary of the dish. Has prep and cook time and serving time. List of ingredients along with how to make it. also tips. Nutrition information is calories, fat (not broken up into good and bad) carbs and protein.You may be able to substitute some ingredients for your dietary needs.Gift of an ebook is listed. Like how the chapters are divided using different parts of the chicken.

River runners of the Grand Canyon by Lavender David Sievert Lots of history from the beginning and the different vessels used to go down the river rapids.Designed their own levels of change in volume of water and size of waterfall.Like understanding how the boulders actually create the rapids. Liked Hopi folk stories as we met many of the women who were putting beads and jewelry together to sell to tourists on western rim of GC.Enjoyed learning about the individual expeditions and the types of boats used and why. So fascinating.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Do stars have points, questions and answers about stars and planets by Berger_ Melvin - Berger_ Gilda Interesting and very informative questions and answers about the sky and everything in it. Like especially the answers because they use everyday things in our lives to help understand it all.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Two! by Tia PerkinStory of a child who also has a younger sibling that gets into a lot of trouble. Colorful children's book that rhymes.Very easy to follow as the words are bright on the pages. Older child tries to fix everything the younger one has destroyed, hiding things from his mother.Silly book and love all brilliant colors on the pages.

Natural Green Home Cleaning For Beginners by R. KishoreLike this book because we do have a lot of the things in our pantry and on our shelves. We do use many methods already as we don't want to spend the money on expensive chemicals. Good reference book to keep on hand.A KEEPER!

Companion Planting: the vegetable gardens guideWhat I like about this book are the charts and examples of what flowers/herbs will grow well with vegetables and why.Also like composting diagrams and finding out how long it will actually take to break down.Also tells you which vegetables to grow on south side of the garden and benefits of having a raised garden. Also has charts of what NOT to put near another.So much more information inside depending on what it is you are specifically looking for.

Banana Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Have read the other books in this series by the author and have enjoyed them.
This one starts out with Delores and she's just finished writing her romance regency novel. Story follows the family members and what's going on in their lives.
What I like about this is that there are many generations involved and even if you've not read prior books the author brings you up to date without bogging down all the details.
Usually it's Hannah that finds the dead body as gets clues to solve the mystery-this time it's Delores-Hannah and her husband Ross are on their way back from a cruise.
Recipes are scattered throughout the book. I find the series a bit different now that she's married and no longer dating Norman and Mike. It's just a bit weird. Typical Hannah novel where nothing goes to how you think it should go, lots of drama and same main characters.
Surprise ending after that murder is solved and excerpt from Joanne Fluke's Stepchild is included at the end.
I received this book from Kensington Books via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

101 Top Cookie Recipes by Annie Grapes
Starts out with things you will need to bake cookies also a Q and A section on some instructions you might find and how to do them.
Each recipe starts with a photo, time in minutes and servings.
Ingredient list and how to make the cookies is included. There are NO nutritional information and from what I know about baking you can not usually substitute the butter for something else-they just don't come out right. Feel free to experiment for your dietary needs.
Has suggestions or variation you can do for some recipes.
Blueberry cookies, apple oatmeal cookies, carrot cookies with raisins look about the best to try.
Gonna try a few recipes and then decide if this book is a KEEPER.
Free ebook at the end.